There are a select few species of animals in existence that I personally get quite a kick out of. Whether it be because I consider them to be adorable, quirky or interesting, there are animals that I will always love and be intrigued by, and armadillos happen to be one kind I’ve always enjoyed.
I don’t know a tremendous amount about armadillos, though, so I thought I would educate myself and, in turn, all of you in the process. The following information comes from livescience.com.
“Armadillos are barrel-shaped animals covered with natural armor. In fact, its name in Spanish means ‘little armored one.’ The armadillo’s armor works well against most predators, but not against cars. They are also known as the ‘Hillbilly Speed Bump’ for their tendency to get run over by vehicles.
“There are 21 species of armadillo, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Some armadillos are very small, while others are huge. The smallest is the pink fairy armadillo, which is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. Giant armadillos are the largest species, and are about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, according to National Geographic.
“An armadillo’s armor is made up of overlapping plates covering the back, head, legs and tail. The number of armored bands identifies the different species, according to the San Diego Zoo. Only one species, the three-banded armadillo, can roll itself into a hard armored ball to defend itself against predators. Other armadillo species simply dig a hole quickly and hunker down so that their tender stomach is protected and their armor is the only thing visible.
“Armadillos have pointy snouts and long, sticky tongues, similar to anteaters, which are close cousins. Their eyesight is poor, so they hunt with a highly developed sense of smell. They also have wiry hairs along their sides and belly, which they use to feel their way around, like curb feelers on some cars. They also have strong legs and sharp claws for digging,” the web page states.
Check back tomorrow for more information about the almighty armadillo.
ontheedgeofeverything 